Product display

ABSTRACT

A product display used with a slotted wall for the display of a shoe. The display includes a frame member having ends separated by a lateral member, a placard holder secured to the frame member, a mounting bracket to fit into the slotted wall and for securing to the placard holder, a frame bracket for securing the placard holder about one end of the lateral member, and a shoe holder extending from the lateral member. The shoe holder having a member extending from the lateral member. The upwardly extending member having a curved section defined to curve toward the rear of the frame member, whereby the placement of the shoe on the shoe holder, places a toe section of the shoe about the curved section of the shoe holder such that an outer sole of the shoe is displayed towards the front of the member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally a product display and, more particularly, to a display system adapted to show or exhibit the outer soles of shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's competitive economy, effective product displays become more important in promoting and selling products. One particular area in which product display has become critical is the sale of athletic shoes. For several years, logos, designs, and colors provided on the top of athletic shoes have been vital to effective marketing of the products. More recently, the bottom of the shoes, or the outer sole have been critical especially when selling and marketing a shoe designed for a particular purpose. For example, running shoes, walking shoes, basketball shoes, golf shoes, football shoes all have very specifically designed outer soles, some of which include soft or hard cleats. The effective display of the outer soles of shoes is not possible. The display system according to one or more embodiments of the present invention dramatically presents the outer sole of the shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more of the embodiments provided in the present invention relates to a product display apparatus for use with a slotted wall for the display of the outer sole of the shoe. The apparatus includes a frame member, a placard holder, a mounting bracket, a frame bracket and a shoe holder. The frame member has a pair of ends separated by a lateral member. The placard holder is secured to the frame member, and has a base and a pair of sides extending from the base. A top connects the pair of sides and has a slot for receiving a removable informational card, the placard holder having a defined front face for viewing informational contained on the informational card. The mounting bracket has a first end complimentary to fit into the slotted wall and has a second end secured to the top portion of the placard holder. The frame bracket has a means for securing the base of the placard holder about one of the ends of the pair of ends of the frame member. The shoe holder extends from one end of the lateral member defined by the frame member. The shoe holder has a member upwardly extending from the end of the lateral member and has a curved section about an upper section. The curved section is defined to curve toward the rear of the frame member, whereby the placement of the shoe on the shoe holder, places a toe section of the shoe about the curved section of the shoe holder such that an outer sole of the shoe is displayed towards the front of the member.

In other embodiments, the front side section of the frame bracket may have a surface for receiving and display an advertisement logo. Furthermore, the securing means may be defined as having a front side section fastened to a backside section. The backside section would have an upper face portion and a lower face portion connected by a lateral portion, such that the upper face portion can be secured to the placard holder, and the backside section can be secured to the front side section.

In other embodiments, the lateral support of the frame member may extend between the backside section and the front side section of the frame bracket. Alternatively, the lateral support may include a pair of posts extending upwardly through the frame bracket to provide support to the placard holder.

In yet still other embodiments, the shoe holder may be defined as having a pair of upwardly extending members secured to the end of the lateral member by a pair of bottom supports. The pair of upwardly extending members would separately including curved members along upper sections thereof and have a top U shaped section connecting the two curved members.

Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a display in accordance with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a display in accordance with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein; and

FIG. 3 is a side view of a display in accordance with one or more of the embodiments disclosed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or the embodiments illustrated.

Referring now Figures, there is shown a product display apparatus 100 used to showcase a shoe and, more particularly an outer sole of the shoe. The outer sole of the shoe is typically defined by the bottom outside portion of the shoe that make contact with the surface. While most displays are defined to showcase the top portion, logos, colors, and other aspects of the shoe, there has never truly been an effective means to showcase the bottom or outer sole of the shoe.

The product display 100 includes a frame 105 mounting a placard holder 110 (defined below) with a shoe holder 150.

The placard holder 110 includes a base 120 and a pair of sides 122 extending upwardly there from. Connected to the sides 122 is also a top 124. The placard holder 110 may also be a two piece construction, having front and back sections 126 and 128, with a plastic window 130 and a backing 132. When the placard holder 110 is assembled, the top 124 includes a slot 134 for receiving an informational card 140 that slides between the front and back sections (most preferably along a groove cut down the sides 136. The informational card provides details regarding the shoe being displayed and is easily replaceable when a new shoe. The placard holder 110 includes threaded openings 138 on the base 120 which align with apertures on a frame bracket 140, such that the placard holder 110 can be secured to the frame 100.

The frame bracket 140 includes a backside section 142 and a front side section 144. The front side section 144 is positioned on the front of the frame 100 and can be used to display and affix a logo. The front side section 144 is attached to the backside section 142 by simple fastening means (adhesive, screws, bolts, etc.). The backside section 142 has an upper face portion 146 and a lower face portion 148 connected by a lateral portion 147. The upper face portion 146 is secured to the placard holder, this can be accomplished by inserting the upper face portion 146 between the front and back sections 126 and 128 of the placard holder 110. The lateral portion 147 may include openings aligned to the threaded openings 138 on the base 120 of the placard holder 110 to secure the placard holder 110 thereto. The lower face portion 148 extends downwardly and includes fastening means 149 to secure the backside section 142 to the front side section 144.

As illustrated the frame 105 and the shoe holder 150 may be a single piece assembly or construction. However, it is contemplated that separate components can be used. Discussing the shoe holder 150 first, it is provided to include an upwardly extending member 152 that includes a curved member 154 about its upper section 156. The curvature is defined to move from the front 159 towards the rear 160. Since the toe section of a shoe is curved away from the outer sole, and the outer sole is to be displayed at the front 159 of the shoe holder 150, the curved member 154 has a similar curvature, curved towards the rear, such that the outer sole can be positioned at the front 159 of the frame. Further defined, the shoe holder 150 includes a pair of upwardly extending members 152, which extend from the frame 105 along a pair of bottom supports 162. The pair of upwardly extending members 152 included curved members 154 along the upper section 156. A top U shaped section 164 serves to connect the two curved members 154.

The frame 105, as mentioned, includes a pair of bottom supports 162 extending from a lateral support 164. The lateral support 164 extends between the backside section 142 and a front side section 144 of the frame bracket 140. The lateral support 164 further includes a pair of posts 166 that extend upwardly through the frame bracket 140 to provide support to the placard holder 110.

The display 100 further provides a means to secure it to a slotted wall. The slotted wall, not shown, is a typical wall system found in stores and is made up of multiple L-shaped slots adapted to receive a mounting bracket 112. As provided in the figures, the mounting bracket 112 includes one end 114 that is L-shaped or complimentary to the slot in the slotted wall. The other end 116 of the bracket 112 would be secured to the product display 100. The other end 116 of the bracket 112 can be secured to the top 124 of the backing 132 of the placard holder 110.

From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. 

We claim:
 1. A product display apparatus for use with a slotted wall for the display of a shoe, the apparatus comprising: a frame member having a pair of ends separated by a lateral member; a placard holder secured to the frame member, the placard holder having a base and a pair of sides extending from the base and a top connecting the pair of sides, the top having a slot for receiving a removable informational card, the placard holder having a defined front face for viewing informational contained on the informational card; a mounting bracket having a first end complimentary to fit into the slotted wall and having a second end secured to the top portion of the placard holder; a frame bracket having a means for securing the base of the placard holder about one of the ends of the pair of ends of the frame member; and a shoe holder extending from one end of the lateral member defined by the frame member, the shoe holder having a member upwardly extending from the end of the lateral member, the upwardly extending member having a curved section about an upper section, the curved section defined to curve toward the rear of the frame member, whereby the placement of the shoe on the shoe holder, places a toe section of the shoe about the curved section of the shoe holder such that an outer sole of the shoe is displayed towards the front of the member.
 2. The display of claim 1, wherein the front side section of the frame bracket having a surface for receiving and display an advertisement logo.
 3. The display of claim 2, wherein the securing means is defined as a front side section fastened to a backside section, the backside section has an upper face portion and a lower face portion connected by a lateral portion, the upper face portion being secured to the placard holder, and the backside section being secured to the front side section.
 4. The display of claim 3, wherein the lateral support of the frame member extends between the backside section and the front side section of the frame bracket.
 5. The display of claim 4, wherein the lateral support further includes a pair of posts extending upwardly through the frame bracket to provide support to the placard holder.
 6. The display of claim 3, wherein the upper face portion is inserted through the base of the placard holder.
 7. The display of claim 1, wherein the lateral portion include openings aligned to threaded openings defined on the base of the placard holder such that the frame bracket is secure to the placard holder by fastening means.
 8. The display of claim 1, wherein the shoe holder and frame member are molded as a unitary member.
 9. The display of claim 1, wherein the shoe holder is further defined as having a pair of upwardly extending members secured to the end of the lateral member by a pair of bottom supports, the pair of upwardly extending members separately including curved members along upper sections thereof and having a top U shaped section connecting the two curved members.
 10. A product display apparatus for use with a slotted wall for the display of a shoe, the apparatus comprising: a frame member having a pair of ends separated by a lateral member; a placard holder secured to the frame member, the placard holder having a base and a pair of sides extending from the base and a top connecting the pair of sides, the top having a slot for receiving a removable informational card, the placard holder having a defined front face for viewing informational contained on the informational card; a mounting bracket having a first end complimentary to fit into the slotted wall and having a second end secured to the top portion of the placard holder; a frame bracket having a means for securing the base of the placard holder about one of the ends of the pair of ends of the frame member, wherein the securing means is defined as a front side section fastened to a backside section, the backside section has an upper face portion and a lower face portion connected by a lateral portion, the upper face portion being secured to the placard holder, and the backside section being secured to the front side section; and a shoe holder extending from one end of the lateral member defined by the frame member, the shoe holder having a member upwardly extending from the end of the lateral member, the upwardly extending member having a curved section about an upper section, the curved section defined to curve toward the rear of the frame member, whereby the placement of the shoe on the shoe holder, places a toe section of the shoe about the curved section of the shoe holder such that an outer sole of the shoe is displayed towards the front of the member.
 11. The display of claim 10, wherein the front side section of the frame bracket having a surface for receiving and display an advertisement logo.
 12. The display of claim 11, wherein the lateral support of the frame member extends between the backside section and the front side section of the frame bracket and the lateral support further includes a pair of posts extending upwardly through the frame bracket to provide support to the placard holder.
 13. The display of claim 12, wherein the shoe holder and frame member are molded as a unitary member.
 14. The display of claim 10, wherein the shoe holder is further defined as having a pair of upwardly extending members secured to the end of the lateral member by a pair of bottom supports, the pair of upwardly extending members separately including curved members along upper sections thereof and having a top U shaped section connecting the two curved members.
 15. A product display apparatus for use with a slotted wall for the display of a shoe, the apparatus comprising: a frame member having a lateral member; a placard holder secured to one end of the lateral member, the placard holder having means for receiving a removable informational card, the placard holder having a defined front face for viewing informational contained on the informational card; a mounting bracket having a first end complimentary to fit into the slotted wall and having a second end secured to the placard holder; a frame bracket having a means for securing the placard holder about the lateral member; and a shoe holder extending from one end of the lateral member, the shoe holder having a member upwardly extending from the end of the lateral member, the upwardly extending member having a curved section about an upper section, the curved section defined to curve toward the rear of the frame member, whereby the placement of the shoe on the shoe holder, places a toe section of the shoe about the curved section of the shoe holder such that an outer sole of the shoe is displayed towards the front of the member.
 16. The display of claim 15, wherein the lateral support of the frame member extends between the backside section and the front side section of the frame bracket and the lateral support further includes a pair of posts extending upwardly through the frame bracket to provide support to the placard holder.
 17. The display of claim 12, wherein the shoe holder and frame member are molded as a unitary member.
 18. The display of claim 15, wherein the shoe holder is further defined as having a pair of upwardly extending members secured to the end of the lateral member by a pair of bottom supports, the pair of upwardly extending members separately including curved members along upper sections thereof and having a top U shaped section connecting the two curved members.
 19. The display of claim 15, wherein the securing means is defined as a front side section fastened to a backside section, the backside section has an upper face portion and a lower face portion connected by a lateral portion, the upper face portion being secured to the placard holder, and the backside section being secured to the front side section 